Please click below to learn about what properties are open and closed, how to safely visit properties, bringing The Trustees into your home and supporting The Trustees. Check back here regularly, follow us on social media, or join our email list for the most up to date information.

Visiting and Access to Open Properties

Over 70 Trustees properties are once again open to the public who live nearby. These are sites that do not require staffing and did not experience overcrowding prior to the closures.

In addition, starting on or after May 19, five of our most popular properties will be reopening their outdoor spaces only on a controlled basis to provide residents of those communities more access to nature during the COVID-19 pandemic. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Naumkeag (Opens May 28) in Stockbridge, and World’s End in Hingham will all be opened in a manner that will limit overcrowding and keep both visitors and staff safe by staying aligned with the Governor’s Stay at Home order, which calls for social distancing and staying local. Crane Beach in Ipswich will be open to permit parking holders and Trustees Members for two weeks (May 20-June 2) while they test out the operations required to safely open the beach to the general public.

Crane Beach and Fruitlands Museum will offer daily parking passes, which will be reserved online only. Members and Crane permit holders will gain discounted or free parking passes and must use their Membership numbers when booking their reservations. Fruitlands parking passes will also be free to Members.

Parking passes for Members can be reserved starting May 8. The general public will be able to purchase parking passes starting May 13.

World’s End, deCordova, and Naumkeag will also book parking passes online but will operate using a pre-reserved timed ticketing option. Visitors will sign up to reserve a parking pass online to arrive within a specific window of time to ensure no more than half capacity for safety reasons. As with Fruitlands, Members will be able to reserve their parking passes free of charge.

Please note that those who visit these sites without a parking pass will not be allowed to enter. In keeping with the Governor’s most recent order, all visitors above the age of two are required to bring and wear a face covering.

We know how important it is to get outside, get exercise, and connect with nature in challenging times, and we will continue to work on expanding access to our special places while balancing the need to flatten the curve and slow the spread of this serious virus. Please check back for regularly for announcements on newly opened properties.

Closed Properties and Cancellations

While over 70 Trustees sites have reopened – for local use only – to allow the public access to nature during these difficult times, the rest of our 118 properties have remained closed to date due to concerns about overcrowding and inability to physically distance at these sites.

We recognize that these are some of our most beloved sites and have been working hard to figure out how to reopen these safely, in line with CDC guidance and the Governor’s directives.

These are sites that are usually unstaffed and where a staff presence would now be required to prevent overcrowding, or where town officials have requested that they stay closed. Gates and parking lots will be closed, and all are asked to respect these closures in order to help slow the spread of this serious virus. Sites with narrow trail systems are also being kept closed.

While some of the properties remain closed for the time being, The Trustees hopes to safely open more sites with a plan for controlled access in the near future.

Similarly, all in-person programs are cancelled through the end of June.

Trustees Inns: The Inn at Castle Hill, and the Guest House at Field Farm have delayed their spring opening until May 19. If you have a reservation prior to May 19, our Innkeepers will contact you to reschedule or refund your stay.

Farm Stores and CSA Shares

While Trustees farms are closed to visitors, agricultural operations will continue in compliance with the guidelines issued for the care and feeding of animals, and the production and distribution of food. The Trustees is pleased to offer curbside pick-up of locally-sourced food products via online farm stores and CSA shares. Those who place an order online will be able to pick up the food products during specific times. More information about ordering online from Trustees farm stores or purchasing a farm share for curbside pickup are located here.

Safety When Visiting Properties

When enjoying the open properties, The Trustees asks that visitors follow these social distancing guidelines for the health and safety of all, and to help keep properties open in these challenging times:

Limit visits to open Trustees properties in your respective town or neighborhood;

Stay at least six feet from other visitors, including stepping aside on the trail to let others pass;

Please keep dogs leashed and away from other visitors at all times;

If a parking area is full, please come back at a less busy time.

We continue to ask those who do visit these sites that are open at this time to practice safe social distancing by adhering to these principles, described in the following videos. And we continue to ask that people visit just those sites in their communities.

Summer Camp

We are aware that school closing dates and public health requirements may change between now and June. You are encouraged to register for the camp weeks of your choice. In the event that our camp schedules change due to the health situation, we will offer full refunds.

Virtual Events to do at Home

As this situation continues to evolve, The Trustees is monitoring all guidance and recommended best practices to protect visitors, staff, and our special places. This is a difficult time, as individuals, families, schools, and businesses all navigate these uncharted waters together. With this in mind, we have created online content and virtual programs for you to enjoy from the safety of your home, at thetrustees.org/athome, and we will continue to add to this resource in the coming days.

Membership at The Trustees

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Boston Membership office is closed until further notice and administrative staff are working remotely.

This means we are temporarily unable to process Membership renewals that were mailed to our office on or after Monday, March 21, but we are processing online renewals. If you have recently sent in your renewal, rest assured that your reply form and remittance will be kept in a secure location until we are able to attend to them.

We are replying to telephone calls and voicemail messages on a delayed basis and encourage Members to send questions to the Membership mailbox at membership@thetrustees.org for the fastest service.

We continue to process online gifts and encourage Members to renew on our website at thetrustees.org/renew.